Search - Anton Bruckner, Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic :: Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major 'Romantic'; Herbert von Karajan; Berlin Philharmonic

Exceptional.

Wayne A. | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 03/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I listen to plenty of Bruckner performed by plenty of conductors and orchestras. I always try to maintain an open mind when encountering new (to me) performances. Frankly, this is one of the most radiant and magnificently played Bruckner Fourths I've ever encountered--one of those interpretations that almost leaves one convinced this is exactly the way the composer intended the music to sound.



Karajan seems to be one of those high-profile conductors about whom aficionados enjoy having strong opinions. Nothing attracts derision like success and during his lifetime he was an amazingly successful conductor.



For the classical newcomer my somewhat impartial assessment may be helpful: Herbert von Karajan was a genius and certainly a perfectionist. He tended to get spectacular sound and performances from his orchestras. Now some find his stuff just a bit too "perfect" and consequently emotionally distant--hence "bandmaster." Sometimes I think this assessment by some folks is influenced by personal feelings about the conductor's wartime associations with the Nazi party. Sometimes people just act oddly when confronted by perfection. Personally, I've liked most of the von Karajan recordings I've heard, a number are favorites or first choices, but I also love the work of many other conductors and for different reasons. When you start sampling different interpretations you realize there're many acceptable and enjoyable ways to play the same music.



Case in point. Karajan's Mahler is gorgeous and majestic while simultaneously not exactly rustic and folksy. His approach brings out an astonishing aspect to the music, how well-written it is. It may not be the best Mahler for some but it's still a great listening experience for others--myself included. There's nothing out there quite like it. I have other interpretations when I want the folksy side played up better."

Karajan vs Karajan - Two superb recordings

spydr | 11/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own both the EMI and DG recordings of Karajan's Bruckner 4 with the Berlin Phil and to me they are both superb. Karajan's interpretation is flawless and he manages to conjure up such a rich variety of textures and colours that they can surely not be surpassed. The Berlin Phil of the 70's and early 80's was at its height under Karajan and the quality of its sound (especially evident in the richness of the strings) as well as the virtually perfect beginnings and endings of each passage in these two recordings can surely not be surpassed. Karajan really gives meaning to the 'romatic' in this symphony's name. I would say these are the definitive recordings of this work.



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Which Karajan Bruckner Fourth to choose?

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 01/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Karajan made two classic recordings of the Bruckner Fourth, one in 1970 for EMI--he had briefly jumped ship from DG over a cntract dispute--then again in 1975 when he returned to his home company. Both recordings are with the Berlin Phil., and both aspire to be the greatest Fourths in the catalog. Which one should you choose?



EMI 1970: Karajan is noticeably slower here, adding two min. to each movement compared with his later reading, except for the thrillingly fast Scherzo, which is the same on both. The broader pace allows for more expressive shaping, and the orchestra responds magnificently--just the opening string tremolos and hushed horn solo will have you holding your breath. Karajan was a sophisticate, the mirror opposite of the naive Bruckner, yet somehow he could clothe himself in simplicity and directness in this music. The Berlin strings are very sweet and tender when need be. The brass is enormous without being bombastic. As for sonics, the EMI version was recorded in the BPO's best location, the Jesus Christe Kirche, and the sound is clear and wide-ranging. At times the horns are a bit too recessed for maximum impact, but the climaxes come across without mircophone distortion.



DG 1975: This recording is out of print except in Karajan's complete Bruckner set. As a performance it is faster than the earlier one, which Karajan uses to achieve more immediate excitement. In all other respects the two readings are identical--Karajan tended to make up his mind once an interpretation was set. The deciding factor will probably be the sound. Recorded in the problematic Berlin Philharmonie, the orchestra sounds pinched and restricted compared to the EMI account, and there is a muffled haze in climaxes. In the loudest passages there is also a "crunch" that is not pleasant. These flaws aren't crippling, but they can't be overlooked, either.



Sometimes I feel it's worthwhile to own all of Karajan's various Bruckner interpretations--that's certainly true for Sym. 7, 8, and 9--but his EMI Fourth is so artistically complete that one should own it first and foremost. I can hardly imagine a more satisfying account.



(As to the digital transfers, I would bet that all three versions listed here at Amazon represent the same remastering done for the Karajan Edition, which is the one I own.)"